I want to talk about aromatherapy. What exactly is aromatherapy one might ask? Aromatherapy is the art of using essential and/or fragrant oils for therapeutic benefits. Aromatherapy does not get its just do. There are so many benefits to using and smelling essential oils. Smells evoke emotions and certain scents affect your nervous system as they travel to the emotional center of the brain. Have you ever smelled spoiled food, or trash that has been in the heat? What emotion does it evoke? I am sure as you were reading that sentence, you probably scrunched up your nose as you could just imagine what that smelled like. Well essential oils, whether you think they smell good or bad will do the same thing: evoke an emotion that will send a signal to your brain that will in turn cause you to relax, breathe better, detox and more.
Most of us do not think of using aromatherapy for healing. Logically, it may not make sense, however as I stated in the beginning, scents make absolute sense. Aromatherapy can be used medicinally to improve one’s well-being of mind, body, and spirit. The use of aromatherapy dates back to biblical times when aromatic oils were used not only for religious purposes but for treatment of illnesses as well. Most people know lavender is used for relaxation, but did you also know that it is a sedative, an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic? Lemon is not only a stimulant but a diuretic and antidepressant. Sandalwood is anti-infectious, and a decongestant and eucalyptus is an expectorant and a tonic. This is just a glimpse of the multitude of oils that can be used for healing. So, whether you are needing to improve your sleep or skin, ease stress, anxiety or depression, ease pain or improve quality of life; before you reach for that bottle of prescription pills or other chemical product, consider the natural alternative of aromatherapy because scents truly do make sense.